Being diligent in your rehabilitation and making some modifications may help reduce the risks.
However, there is not a lot of data to guide recommendations on which activities are best to avoid.
How Much Stress on Implants?
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On the other hand, activities such as running and tennis placed predictably higher stress on the implants.
However, there were some surprisesgolf placed some of the highest stress on knee replacement implants.
Specifically, forces on the leading knee of the golf swing were some of the highest forces tested.
Golf or No Golf?
So the question comes up: should doctors advise their knee replacement patients to avoid golfing?
That said, this was a very small study, that looked at one specific knee replacement implant.
The flip side of this argument is that stress on implants can also be increased by weight gain.
Golf is an activity that keeps people exercising.
Getting outside, walking, and moving around are all good for knee replacement patients.
If a little golf is what keeps people moving, then perhaps the stress on the implant is worthwhile.
Precautions for Returning to Golf
Discuss your return to golf with your doctor and physical therapist.
You will likely be advised on how long it should be before you might head to the links.
However, every person’s recovery time is different.
you could reduce the torsion by not wearing spikes, or wearing only soft spikes.
Limit the number of holes you play at first.
As always, pain should be your cue that your knee has had enough for the day.
2018;52(22):142614361. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099509
Hospital for Special Surgery.Arthritis and knee replacement in the golfer.
